Author Archive for amyC

Many of us fail to read the small print or dozens of pages laying out what your car insurance will and will not cover. This leaves many of us with a false sense of safety that when something happens to our cars, we will be taken care of. But what exactly will your insurance cover? Or better yet, what won’t it cover? Here are some situations where you may not be able to depend on your car insurance:

1.The Big Pay Off

And if it gets stolen, taken for a joy ride, and crashed by the thieves, we would like to believe we are covered. This may not always be true. If you don’t have gap coverage, you may be buying your new car yourself. And if it is your fault it was stolen, like leaving your keys in it, don’t expect your insurance company to pay you off.

2.You’re a Bad Driver

If your year yielded more accidents than you ever had, you may want to be very careful, if you are found to be at fault, you can expect your car insurance company to cut you off. Tallying more than 4 accidents makes you a bad driver and the 5th accident may be the straw that breaks your insurance’s back.

3.You Were Drunk

If you were involved in an accident and convicted DUI, expect your insurance company to drop you. Many insurance companies have a 0 tolerance policy for those driving while under the influence, as they should. It is not only a danger for you, it is a danger for everyone on the road.

4.You Forgot to Pay

Either you can pay month to month or take advantage of their discounts and pay your entire policy upfront. Either way, you never want to forget to pay. Driving with lapsed insurance won’t cover any accidents that occur while uninsured. Be sure your insurance company has your updated contact information and keep track of when your policy ends.

5.Moving Violations

It’s unusual to find people that have received at least one speeding ticket in their lifetime. If, however, you have a lead foot and lack the good sense to avoid speed traps, your insurance company may drop you. Once you’re dropped, you’ll be paying a pretty penny for someone else to pick you up. While you don’t have to worry about being dropped for a single speeding ticket, earning more than three in a year may see your rates increased. Even more and you may be completely dropped from your carrier.

6.No License

If your license does get suspended, even after you have gotten coverage, don’t get in an accident. Not only will the police fine you, but your insurance company won’t pay for repairs if you were not allowed behind the wheel. Many people who get caught are the ones who think they won’t. If your license is suspended, just don’t drive. Contact the courts to find out what you need to do in order to get it back.

7.Dragging Your Feet

If you wait too long, your insurance company may deny your claim. If you are injured, have someone contact your insurance company for you. Your insurance agent can help you get through the accident and explain the step by step process. However, your insurance company won’t pay out every claim. The best thing that you can do is to practice safe driving and find out what your insurance really covers.

Stuck in a Snow Bank? Here’s What You Better Have

According to the National Weather Service, 70 percent of the fatalities that involve ice and snow also involve automobiles. Whether you live in the city or a rural area, getting stuck in the snow is a very real possibility. For some people, help comes within minutes. For others, help does not arrive for days. If you find yourself stuck in the snow on a cold winter day, or night, there are ways to stay alive.

1.A Small Shovel

One of the worst things that you can do if you get stuck in feet-deep snow is to leave your car in search of help. Instead, survival experts warn that you should stay, not only with your vehicle, but inside of it. You should know that staying inside of your car presents its own unique set of dangers.

A small shovel or large coffee can comes in handy in these situations, especially if the snow is still falling. Make sure that you exit your car every 30 minutes and clear you tailpipe. Keep the roof, hood and trunk of your car cleared off, and dig out any snow surrounding your tires. This will help to keep you from dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, and will keep your car visible to those on the road and anyone in the air.

2.Flares and Triangles

Think of this: If you skidded across the road and got stuck, what are the chances that it will happen to someone else? To prevent another car from careening into your own, set emergency triangles and flares behind and in front of your vehicle. Place each at least 25 feet from your vehicle to ensure that other drivers can see you quickly. If the road is coated in ice, consider putting your emergency signalers further away from your car. It does no good for someone to slam on their brakes 20 feet from your vehicle; you are sure to get hit.

3.A Watch

A watch for your car? You bet. If you aren’t in the habit of wearing a watch, keep a small watch or battery-operated digital clock in your car. There are things that you will need to time, and you don’t want to waste your car’s battery to do it.

Exit your car every 30 minutes, or more often in heavy snow fall, to clear it off. Check your tailpipe each time you exit the vehicle. Turn on your car and run the heat once an hour for 15 minutes. Remember to keep your windows cracked. Check on your flares every 30 to 45 minutes to make sure they are still visible.

4.An Emergency Kit

Anyone who lives in a region that welcomes snow in the winter should have an emergency kit in their car. These kits can mean the difference between life and death. Your kit should be stocked with a blanket, an extra set of clothing, several bottles of water, energy or granola bars, a whistle, an extra pair of shoes or boots, and a list of emergency contact numbers. Never assume that you will be able to get yourself out of the snow or that emergency crews will be able to reach you. Having a properly-stocked kit can save your life.

5.A Cell Phone

Believe it or not, not everyone in the world owns, or wants, a cell phone. If you are a member of this crowd, you certainly do not need to carry one; however, you do need to keep one in your car. You can buy a cheap, disposable cell phone to keep in your car from almost any big-box store. Keep it charged, and keep a charger in your car.

If you’ve never been stuck in the snow, consider yourself lucky. Stock your car with the essentials, and make sure your insurance policy is up to date. It’s the simple things that can keep you alive.

Choosing the Right First Car for Your Newly-Licensed Teen

It might surprise you, but fewer teenagers are hitting the road than ever before. Since the recession, everyone has cut back on driving, but new drivers are leading the trend towards biking and public transportation. According to the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research institute, 15.3 percent of Americans under 40 don’t have a license, and over 30 percent of those surveyed cite the huge costs associated with owning and maintaining a vehicle as the number one reason. Of course, the majority of teens are still interested in learning to drive and in owning their first car, and there can be plenty of reasons why you want them to be. Having a teen who can drive themselves to school or work and even transport younger siblings will not only help you, it will help them develop important skills and responsibility. But how do you choose the kind of car you’re willing to hand them the keys to? How do you protect them from the congested highways as much as possible?

Going Big

No matter what kind of recommendations you find on the internet for smaller cars or how much your son or daughter fantasizes about driving around in a sports car, there is really no substitute for size. According to researchers at the University of Buffalo, drivers of cars are 7.6 times more likely to die in a head-on crash than drivers of SUVs. Simply speaking, the laws of physics dictate that the smaller vehicle will always bear most of the brunt of a collision, and the higher up your vehicle sits, the less likely the damage is to the cab. Be careful with older SUVs, though, because their center of gravity makes them more likely to roll over. Still, the vast majority of rollover deaths can be prevented by simply wearing a seat belt, and stability control on newer vehicles corrects the problem. A big car doesn’t necessarily have to mean an SUV. Many parents buy their teenagers pickup trucks because of the lack of passenger space, and because learning to operate a truck can be the best thing for their driving skills.

The Advantages of Used Cars

It’s rare to find a parent willing to splurge on a new car for their teenage driver for obvious reasons. Even if your teen is more responsible than his peers, younger and inexperienced drivers are prone to all kinds of issues – from dings and scratches to lending their keys to the wrong person. That’s why the most major obstacle to buying a new car for your teen is insurance. Car insurance for younger drivers is already disproportionally high due to their extreme risk factor, but insuring a new car that is primarily driven by a teenager can be next to impossible. Go used, but don’t stick to that age-old tradition of finding the most ancient car on the lot. Get a vehicle that is new enough to have some of the safety features that will give you peace of mind like stability control, lane drift warnings, or collision avoidance. The temptation is there to save as much money as possible, but if you shop for really old models, you could end up with a vehicle that doesn’t even have an airbag. Safety and affordability should both be taken into account.

Preparing the Driver

It doesn’t really matter how safe the vehicle you’ve purchased is if your teen is not comfortable driving it. Most young people are interested in cars that look cool and will impress their friends, but you should emphasize to them that they need to test drive a car to make sure they can handle it on the road. You should feel comfortable that your teen can maneuver and park the vehicle as well as learn the important features. You should set strict rules about how many friends they can transport at one time and how late they can be on the road. Take advantage of some of the great mobile apps that are available for parents who want to monitor their teen driving, from GPS trackers to apps that measure their fuel economy and let you know if they were speeding. Check the car’s headlights, tail lights, fluid levels, and tire pressure yourself and teach your teen how to do these things. Good driving habits mean being able to notice when there’s a problem.

No matter how safe the vehicle you choose for your teenager might be, it’s hard to forget that 16-19-year-olds are involved in more accidents than any other drivers, and 75 percent of them are a result of driver error. Choosing the right car can help save your teen’s life in a crash, but teaching them the right way to drive responsibly could prevent that crash from ever happening. They need to know that driving is a privilege even if you’re driving the biggest clunker around.

We all have someone in our lives that is the hardest person in the world to buy a gift for. If that person in your life is a trucker, you’re in luck. There are certain gifts that every trucker dreams of. Print this list and pop it in your bag; it will be invaluable to you as you shop.

1.MP3 Player

There are over three million truckers in America. Of those, the majority report that trucking can be a boring business. 14-hour days and sleepless nights virtually scream for entertainment. Even if the trucker in your life has a smart phone, an MP3 player is more convenient.

2.GPS Unit

It’s the rare trucker that doesn’t already own a GPS unit but, if yours doesn’t, buying him one will earn you major points. Better than a map, a GPS will get your trucker where he needs to be. Relying on maps and navigation apps drains the battery on mobile devices. With a GPS unit, truckers have constant access to directions at the touch of a button.

3.Mini Fridge

Did you know that you could purchase a mini-fridge that works in vehicles? These fridges are far superior to coolers, keeping beverages ice cold. Having the ability to reach back and grab a cold water or soda negates the need to stop at rest areas so frequently. Your trucker will make better time simply because you gave a thoughtful gift.

4.Sun Lamp

People who drive trucks are some of the sickest people on earth. Why? Because they spend all of their time in a vehicle’s cab and very rarely visit a doctor. Vitamin D is fantastic for the skin, the health and the mood. Buy a face lamp that your trucker can plug into his AC/DC transformer. Just a few minutes under this lamp every day can alleviate depression.

5.Tablet

A tablet can act as a computer, a music player and a DVR. The right tablet can take and store photos and video, perform as a handheld video game, and serve as a way to stay in touch with the people at home. Be sure to purchase a tablet that has 3G or 4G capabilities. Anything less will have your trucker searching for a WIFI signal wherever he goes.

6.Bed Roll

Better than a sleeping bag and not quite as good as a mattress, a bed roll can be a blessing in disguise to the trucker who can’t find a room for the night. These bed rolls are comfortable enough for at least one night’s sleep, and can be rolled and stored when not in use. If your trucker’s cab already has a mattress, these rolls can add an extra layer of cushioning.

7.Digital Photo Frame

Digital photo frames aren’t just for the coffee table. These frames can be fantastic for truckers who don’t make it home as often as they like. Store photos of friends, family and even pets in one of these photo frames for the trucker in your life.

Truckers aren’t as difficult to buy for as you may think. When shopping for the has-everything trucker in your life, consider his health and comfort. Look for items that will turn a truck’s cab into a home away from home. If you can find the item that makes your loved one feel just a bit less lonely, you’ve found the perfect gift.

Writer Dan Nielson travels around the nation pulling his trailer full of equipment with him. He recommends checking out timbren overloads suspension kits for leveling your truck loads.